Dane Klinger BA/MS '06

PhD Student, Stanford University

“The Bard CEP curriculum provides a broad foundation in the science, economics, and politics behind environmental policy. It prepared me to work across disciplines to better understand and help solve modern environmental problems.”

The Faculty

Students discuss some of the benefits of working with the faculty at Bard CEP.

3+2 Programs

The Center offers qualified undergraduate students a 3+2 option that allows them to receive an M.S. in environmental policy or climate science and policy in an accelerated period of time. Bard CEP offers two 3+2 programs: one for Bard undergraduate students and one for qualified sophomores nationwide.

About the Program

Students begin either the MS program in either environmental policy or climate science and policy, which entails a year of interdisciplinary coursework in economics, science, policy, and law. The second year of the program includes a full-time professional internship, leadership courses, and a master's project. The program is designed to enhance students’ learning and provide vital preparation for environmental decision making. Students are equipped to understand complex environmental problems, enabling in-depth analysis and problem solving in the scientific, political, and economic arenas.

Bard 3+2 Program

Bard College undergraduates may proceed directly from three years of undergraduate study at Bard to one of the two-year master’s degree programs outlined here. Interested Bard students should apply in their junior year. Completion of Bard distribution requirements, successful moderation into a program of study, approval from their undergraduate advisor, and a formal petition to the dean of studies is required to qualify. Interested students should inquire as soon as possible to ensure they meet all requirements.

Accepted students spend two years at Bard completing the master’s degree. The master’s project, usually in the form of a thesis, serves as the student’s senior project, with an undergraduate advisor serving as the second reader. Graduates of the program receive a B.A. and an M.S. from Bard in five years.

Junior Year at Bard

The Bard Center for Environmental Policy invites highly qualified sophomores from institutions across the nation to apply for admission to the 3+2 Program. Students spend their junior year at Bard taking interdisciplinary master’s coursework from one of the degree programs outlined below. Students then return to their home institution, and complete their B.A. or B.S. degree. In the fifth year, students embark on the extended professional internship and return in the spring to finish their masters at Bard. Applicants must consult with their home institution to determine transfer credits for Bard graduate classes, both for counting towards graduation and towards a major or minor.